Machine for weaving loops into fabrics



Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. s1. JEAN ETAL MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1950 FIGJ ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. ST.'JEAN EIAL 2,609,004

MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO mamcs Filed April 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

IN VEN TOR. PA UL .1. 5r. JEAN By WILLIS R007 A 7' TORNE Y Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. 51'. JEAN ETAL MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1950 Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. srr. JEAN ETAL ,609,

MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS 7 Filed April 6, 1950 e sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. PAUL J. sr. JEAN 55 y w/ u Ru/rr A TTORNE Y Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. s'r. JEAN EI'AL MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 6, 1950 a INVENTOR.

PAUL J. STJEAN WILLIS PRUITT ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1952 P. J. s1. JEAN ETAL MACHINE FOR WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS s Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 6, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

M m -I. 5 J m P ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR'WEAVING LOOPS INTO FABRICS Paul J. St. Jean and Willis Pruitt, Attalla, Ala, assignors to Lawrence Products Company, Inc Attalla, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Application April 6, 1950, Serial No. 154,402

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for the weaving of terry and/or cut pile fabrics of the general character disclosed, for example, in co-pending application Serial No. 123,545, filed October 26, 1949, which has been issued as U. S. Patent No. 2,547,824 on April 3, 1951.

One of the features of the machine described and claimed in said application is the provision of a displaceable hook bar carrying a set of hooks, each of these hooks being adapted to engage and entrain a respective pile warp thread when the hook bar is reciprocated with respect to an array of warp threads designed to be woven into a fabric, thereby drawing thes pile warp threads into the loops which become'anchored in the fabric by the continuous weaving operation and which may be cut or left uncut depending upon the character of cloth desired.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to increase the number and variety of patterns which may be produced with a machine of the character set forth above.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improvement whereby different types of loops may be selectively produced without interrupting the operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvement whereby successive rows of loops may be formed wherein the position of the loops varies for different rows.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide, in a machine as set forth above, automatic means for periodically varying the length, position and/or character (cut or uncut) of the loops extending in rows across the fabric.

Yet a further object resides in the provisionof a novel type of hook support utilizable for the production of patterns in which rows of loom of different description and/or position alternate at regular or irregular intervals, or for switching from one type of pattern to another (for example, from a pattern composed of rows of lon loops to one composed of rows of short loops or vice versa) during continuous operation of the machine.

According to a feature of the present invention there is provided, as part of a reciprocable carriage, a rotatably journaled hook supporting member having secured thereto a plurality of sets of hooks extending indifferent directions, and means for rotating the hook supporting mem ber either manually when desired or automatically at a predetermined stage or stages of operation, through an angle such as to place one set of hooks in an operative position previously occupied by'another set of hooks.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine or loom according to the invention, with part of the loom frame removed to expose the mechanism;

. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the hook supporting member and adjacent elements;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the elements shown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing different positions of the hook supporting member and illustrating the mode of rotating same;

- Fig. '7 is a fragmentary side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, of a somewhat modified machine according to the invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, of the hook supporting member of the machine shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view analogous to Figs. 3 and 8, showing the hook supporting element of the invention incorporated in still another type of loom;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing yet a further modification; I

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view, on a larger scale, of the hook supporting member and adjacent elements of the machine shown in Fig. 11; and 1 Fig. 13 is a front view of the elements shown in Fig. 12.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 6 and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the general organization of a machine according to the invention, there is provided a machine 20 comprising a frame 2| whereon are supported the various elements of a conventional horizontal loom of the Northrop type, including the Warp beam 22, the take-up roll 23, guide rollers 24, 25, feed roller 26, the lay 21 pivoted at 28, a set of dobbies 29 co-operating with harness levers 30 for selectively operating various harnesses such as shown at 3la, 31b, 3lc, these harnesses being controllable through wires 33a, 33b, 33c passing over rollers 34a, 34b, 34c, and a motor (not shown) which actuates all of these elements in a manner not further described because well known per se. Weft threads, supplied from suitable spools (not shown), form fillings H0 in the shed which in turn is formed by two sets of ground warp threads 90a and 90b as well as a set of pile warp threads 90c. Ground warp threads 90a and 90b pass from the beam 22 over guide rollers 24, 25, around rails 89, through the heddles of harnesses am, 3Ib, respectively, through the reed of the lay 21 and, after having been turned into a fabric 38, around guide bar III, feed roller 26 and deflection roller I12 tothe take-uproll 23, The pile warp threads 990," which may be somewhat heavier than the ground warp and which are supplied by separate spools or the like, not shown, pass through respective apertures 81 of a guide plate 85, enter thereupon between a feed roller 83 and a presser roller 84 co-operating imparted to the shaft 69 by means of a cylinder or sheave 54 keyed thereto and having the end of a wire 86 wrapped around it; this wire passes around a guide roller 61 as well as a guide roller 58 and is tensioned at intervals by a dobby-operated harness lever I39. A torsion spring 59, wrapped around, the shaftflfifl, and anchored to the frame 2I at 93, tends to restore the cams BI, I6I to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 after they have been displaced therefrom by the action of harness lever I39 and wire 66.

therewith, thence pass around a pair of rollers 19 and 11, which cause them to travel alonga short horizontal run on which they traverse the eyes of individual riders 18 forming part of a stopmotion arrangement, and after passing around a roller 86 and guide rails 89 enter the heddles of harness 3Ic. Rollers 83, 84 and 89 as well as uideplate 8 su o ted: o a a r fu rieh rising, from the re r- QfLfIQme 2|, one; of which is shown at I8I, these uprights in turn carrying brackets such as, I82 whereinthe rollers 16 and 11 are journaled. I

Secured to the; frame it adjacent the ends of its breast beam 49- are a pair of slide boxes 4|, I41, within which move the slides43, I43, respectively. Extending from the ends of slides 43, I43 are. pins48, I48, respectively ,while from each box. 4I,, I4I there projec-t twopins 49, I49, there being-associated with each slide apair of contracting springs 46, 41 and I46, I41, respectively, having their, ends anchored to pins 48, 4'9 and to pins-J48, I49, respectively. Also securedto the end of. slide 43 is an anchor plate 45. The tendency of springs 45, 41 and I46, I41 is to displace the slides rearwardly from the position shown in the drawing. Theseslides, which together with a cross beam 68 bridged across the rear ends of. the slides form, a reciprooableparriage 15, are tilted toward the horizontal so, as to be reciprocable in an inclined planeenclosing a, small angle, with the plane of, thepile warp threads 9110 when the harness 3Ic is in its top position as shown, the arrangement being similar to the one disclosed in cow-pending application Serial No. 141,476, filed January 31, 1950., V

Each slide 43, I43 is provided at the underside of itsrear extremity witha set of; sawteeth 59, I59 (Fig. 3) co-operating with a dog such as 5I (Fig. 1), the latter being pivoted to the box M at 52. Vertical rods 54, I54, slidably guided in sleeves 53, I53, respectively, which are secured to the frame 2|, are respectively aligned-with the dog 5I associated with the teeth 59 and with its companion dog I5I associated with the teeth I59 of slide I43, each of these rods having a lower end pivoted to a respective lever 55, I55 rotatably held in the frame 2I by a stud 56, I59. A spring such as 51, anchored to the frame 2| at 32, tends to maintain the forward end of lever 55 and, with it, the rod 54 in a raised position in which the top of the rod abuts the dog 5I thereby positively maintaining the latter engaged with a tooth 59 after the slide 43, in a manner subsequently described, has been brought into its retracted position, Fig. 1, against the action of springs 49, 41; it will be understood that lever I55 and rod I54 are similarly spring-biased to maintain the dog I5I in engagement with the teeth I59 of slide I43.

The rods 54,154 are adapted to be periodically depressed against the action of their biasing springs, such as 51, by means of cams 6I, IBI

mounted on a shaft 69, these cams co-operating with the levers: 55, I55, respectively. Motionis Mounted on the shaft 9I of feed roller 83 is a gear 92 which meshes with another gear 95 mounted on a stud. shaft 94. A plate 95, loosely pivoted on the stud shaft 94, carries a. pawl 96 which is pivoted to the plate at 91. Pawl 96 cooperates with a ratchet 98, fixed to the stud shaft 94, so as to be rigid with gear 93, and is held in contact with the teeth of the ratchet by means of asuitable spring (not'shown), The end of ro1ler83 opposite gear 921s embraced by the'jaws of a brake member" 99 which is, pivoted to they frame 2I at 88 and frictionally; engages the roller 83 to prevent overrunningv and maintain the threads 900 at acertaintension;

Pivotally secured tothe plate, 95, by meansof a pin IOI, is a bent rod I99 havingfits other extremity fixed by a nut I93 tothe bracket 45. on slide 43. It will thus'beseen thatforward displacement of the carriage-15,,resulting, in a displacement of. rod I99.to. thelright. (as-viewed in Fig. 1) will swing the plate 9,5 counter-clockwise. around the studfshaft 94,- thereby imparting a similar movement to' the 'ratchet 98. and to the. gear 93, this in turniresu'lting. in aclockwise rotation of gear 92 and a like movement of roller 83.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the lay 21' is-formed. at. each end with anv extensioncarrying. arespective lug or bumper 1 I, III. The rear. endof each slide 43, I43 forms a. supportfor aihook bar. 19 which is rotatably journaled, thereinas more fully described hereinafter in. connection withFigs. 3-6; these rear. endsof the slides, I43 also support a pair of bumper cams 12!, Illrespectively aligned and co-operating withbumpers 1I ,,I,1 I,.

Turning now to Figs. 3', l,v 5 and; 6, there is shown one end or the hook bar 111. (theright-hand end thereof as viewed inFig. 2) provided; with a. gudgeon I I4 which passesthrougha slot I I3 pro-v vided in the enlarged end. I15; of the slide I43, this end being also formed with 9,. projection II6. fromwhich depends the bumper earn I 12:. Fixed to the gudgeon I'Mlbymeans of a set screw H1, is a sprocket I I8'having. four teeth II8a, H81), H and IIBd: .These teeth arefadapted' to cooperate with fingers II 9a,, I I9b projecting from a plate I I9, the latter being secured to-theend I I5 by means of bolts I42,pa ssing'" through elongated holes I44 in theplate' II 9; a spring I 95', secured to the projection I I9; at I69, bears upon the plate, II9 so as to tend to maintain the latter in the position showninFigsj) and 5, with its fingers. II9a, II9b projecting intothe; path of teeth IISa-IIBd. A pair of depending spring arms i13a, I131), fastenedto the end II5v by means of studs I14a, I14b, straddlethehook bar 79-, which is of'square crosssection, so as tojtend to index the same in one of four predetermined'angular positions spaced apart, two, of these stable positions being shown in Figs; 3and 6, respectively,

Thehook bar ,19forms av support for two sets of hooks generally indicatedatJ a, I 956, respec-. tively, facing .in,opposit'edirections, the shanks IDBa, I961) of these h'ooksfbeingv secured to oppocated for the lever 355 at 356 (Fig. 1);

site faces of the hook bar. These shanks I06a, I601) terminate in offset, fin-shaped portions I09a, I09b lying in a vertical plane-thus in aplane transverse to the axis of hook bar .10, the end of each fin portion I09a, I09'b being provided with a short bill I08d, I086, respectively, which lie in planes parallel to each other and-to the axis of the bar. Normally the hook bar 10 is indexed by the springs I13a, H32) in one of its pair of stable positions in which the billportions IOBa,'I. 08b lie in horizontal planes, as shown in Fig. 3, with the hook bar 10 securely held against angular displacement by means of a saddle member I39 rigid with the end element I I5 (see Fig.3)

Associated with the two gudgeons I4, II4 (see also Fig. 2) projecting from the twoiends of the hook bar10, are a pair of vertical rods 254, 354 which are slidably guided in sleeves 253,353 externally secured to the frame 2I. These rods have bifurcate upper ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, which serve to engage the gudgeons I4, I I4, respectively when the rods are raised from their normal position (solid lines, Figs. 3 and 4) into an off-normal position (dot-dash lines, Fig. 4) by mechanism about to be described. The lower end of each of these rods is linked to a lever-255, 355, respectively, pivoted to the frame 2I asindi- Springs, such as spring 351 anchored to frame .2I at332, tend to swing these levers counter-clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1), thereby raising the rods 254, 354, yet this movement is normally opposed by a pair of associated cams 26 I., 36I fastened to shafts 260, 360 which pass through the frame 2I and carry sheaves 264, 364 on their inner ends. Wires 266, 366, passing around rollers 261, 361 and 258, 358, engage the sheaves 264, 364' and are controlled by'a dobby-operated harness lever (not shown) in substantially the same manner as is the wire 66 by harness lever I30, for the purpose of rotating the cams 26I, 36I at predetermined intervals from their lowermost position which they normally occupy (see Fig. l) and into which they are urged by torsion spring 259, 359.

The machine just described operates as follows:

At regular intervals, say, after each fourth traverse of the shuttle (not shown), the wire 66 is tensioned and causes the shaft 60, together with the cams '6 I, I6 I, to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1). The levers 55, I55 are thus depressed and lower the rods 54, I54 so as to withdraw their ends from the dogs 5|, I5I engaging the teeth 50, I50 of the slides 43, I43. When the lay 21 swings from its rearward position (dotted lines, Fig. 1) into its forward position (solid lines), its lugs 1I,I1I strike the bumper cams 12, I12 of the carriage 15, there resulting a slight forward displacement of the slides 4I, I4I which allows the dogs to become disengaged from the teeth thereof and to drop upon the extremities of the rods 54, I54, thereby releasing the carriage 15 for movement toward the harnesses as the lay subsequently recedes. As the carriage follows the rearward swing of the lay, by virtue of the action of springs 46, 41 and I46, I41, it ascends an inclined plane (determined by the position of the boxes 4 I, I4 I) until its rearwardly positioned hooks, assumed to be the hooks I05a in accordance with the showing of Figs. 1 and 3;, engage respective ones of the pile warp threads 9110 which have been presented to these hooks through the timely operation of harness 3Ic which has risen into a position higher than :that attainable by the other two harnesses. 1

When the lay 21 again movesto the restores the carriage 15 to its normal position,

fore, .it

at the same time causing the bill portions I08a of hooks" I'05a to entrain the threads c engaged thereby and to draw them into loops. The rods 54, I54 have risen just before the'carriage 15 reaches its home position, thus causing the dogs 5|, I5I to re-engage the teeth 50, I59 and lock the carriage in its. inoperative position. In the course of the following cycles of operation, the loops so formed are firmly anchored in the body of the fabric 38 by the successive traverses of the shuttle and reciprocations of the lay, acting in the conventional manner.

When the carriage was first moved backwards by the action of springs 46, 41, I46, I41, the rod I00 was displaced to the left (as viewed in Fig. 1) resulting in a clockwise rotation of plate around the stud shaft 94 which caused the pawl 96 to pass ineffectively over the teeth of the ratchet 98. Thereafter, as the carriage 15 returns to its normal position at the front of the loom, the pawl 96 rotates the feed roller 84 through an angle sufficient to supply the extra length of thread required by the loop formation, thereby substantially maintaining constant the tension of the pile warp threads 900. Between movements of the hook bar, i, e. when no loops are being formed, the feeding movement of the fabric 38 (due to rotation of'rollers 26 and 23) also entrains the pile warp threads, causing roller 83 to rotate in such sense that ratchet 98 passes unhindered under the tip of pawl 96.

As long as the harness lever controlling the wires 266, 366 remains unoperated, no change will occur in the mode of operation described, and rows of loops will be formed at regular intervals in essentially the same manner as set forth in application Serial No. 141,476. Let us assume, now, that it is desired to change the character of the rows by substituting the hooks I05b for the hooks I05a. The wires 266, 366 are then tensioned (in the arrangement described by the provision of suitable pegs in the dobby chain) and the cams 26I, 36I are rotated to allow the rods 254, 354 to rise, thus raising the gudgeons I4, I I4 in their associated slots (such as H3) and lifting the hook bar 10. As will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 5, such a lifting of the hook bar brings one of the teeth of sprocket II8, in this case the tooth I I8d, into contact with the lower finger IISa of plate II9, thus causing the hook bar 10 to be swung clockwise about its axis, spreading the springs I13a, I13b as it does so. The restoring force of these springs insures, after the hook bar 10 has risen past the finger 9a, that the sprocket lit rotates through a full 90, whereby the next sprocket tooth (IIBa) will be placed in the path of upper finger IIQb before the gudgeon H4 reaches the peak of its travel. Hook bar 19 is thus rotated through another quarter of a circle, being thereafter maintained by the springs IIBa, H31) in a position away from its starting position. The bar 16 remains in this position, as shown in Fig. 6, when descending under its own weight during the subsequent downward movement of the rods 254, 354, the teeth 8a, H311 camming aside the plate H9 against the action of the relatively weak spring I65 as they pass the fingers II9a, H91). I

When the hook bar "I0 reaches the bottom of its stroke, it is guided by the spring 113a, I131) into the saddle I39 which thereupon again prevents angular displacement. The positions of hooks I05a and I051) are now interchanged, it bein understood that the operation just. described took place with the carriage 15 locked in home position between successive reciprocations so that the next loop drawing movement of the carriage will find the hooks I05b in place for engagement of the pile warp threads 900.

The rows of loops adapted to be formed by the hooks I05b may difier from that produceable by the hooks I05a in various respects. If the hooks E0511, E0512 are of difierent length, the loops will be distinguishable by their size. It may be mentioned that, if there is a marked difference in length between the two sets of hooks, it may be desirable to adjust the feed mechanism 83, 95, 98, I so as to cause the pile warp threads to be slackened sufiiciently to enable the formation of the longer loops without excessive tension, and to supplement this mechanism with a tension roller or the like for the purpose of taking up the excess slack during formation of short loops, this slack being then absorbed by the advancing fabric. For a more detailed description of such a tension roller, reference is made to co-pending application Serial No. 154,403, filed April 6, 1950, now abandoned. Again, as shown in Fig. 4, the hooks E051; and I052) may be relatively staggered on the hook bar "it; this will give rise to rows of loops in which the loops are laterally offset with respect to the loops of other rows. In such a case it may be advantageous to lead the threads opposite hooks I 55a and the threads opposite hooks I35b over separate tension rollers for the purpose of absorbing the slack created by the non-entrainment of one or the other set of threads. Finally, the hook of one set may be provided with cutting blades for cutting open the loops after their formation, or one or both sets may be selectively interspersed with hooks of this type, such hooks having been described in great detail in co-pending application Serial No. 129,573, filed November 26, 1949.

The arrangement of Figs. 7 and 8 is similar to the one previously described and the same reference numerals have been used to denote corresponding elements. The carriage I has been modified, however, by disposing the box ll and the slide 43 horizontally in the manner shown in application Ser. No. 123,545, now Patent No. 2,547,824, referred to above. Also, the hooks I05a have been given a form different from that of hooks I 05b, so that the loops drawn by the former will be longer (as will be apparent from Fig. 7). It will further be noted that the bumpers 72 (not shown in Figs. 7, 8) and I72 have been shortened, in view of the fact that the relative position between these bumpers and lugs 7|, I'll changes less in the arrangement now referred to.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10 embodies the invention in a machine of the character disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 123,544, filed October 26, 1949, now Patent No. 2,574,108. As described in that application, the hook bar is horizontally entrained by the reciprocating carriage 75 but is displaceable perpendicular thereto, being guided along an inclined path by a pair of guide rods along which there are slidably displaceable a pair of riders or sleeves connected with the hook bar. Figs. 9 and 10 show one such guide rod, designated 300, on which there is slidable a rider 30l from which depends a link 302, the latter being connected with a hanger 303 forming an arcuate rest 304 for the end of gudgeon H4. The box MI and the slide I43 are horizontally disposed, similar to Figs. 7 and 8, but the end member H5 has been enlarged to allow for a lengthening of slotv I I3 and for a deepening of saddle I39 in order to insure that the hook bar 10 remains engaged by this saddle and its teeth II8a--Il8d remain clear of the finger ll9a when the rider 3!" ascends the rod 300 during rearward displacement of the carriage 15; this is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, showing the extreme operative position of the carriage and of the hook bar. The rod 300 is anchored to a depending bracket 305, which may be vertically displaceable to allow for a limited adjustment of the inclination of the rod, and also to a post 306 rising from the breastbeam 40. When the slide I43 is in its home position (teeth I50 engaged by dog I5I), a rise of the rod 354 will operate to lift the gudgeon II 4 off its rest 304 and thereafter to bring the teeth of sprocket H8 into engagement with the fingers II 9a, I I9b of plate I I9, thus effecting rotation of the hook bar 10 as previously described.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show the invention applied to a machine of the character disclosed in copending application Serial No. 136,043, filed December 30, 1949. Here the slotted member H5, forming a housing for the gudgeon I I4, is secured to the lower end of a swinging arm 30'! keyed to a shaft 308 which is held in a bearing 303. Keyed to the same shaft 308 is a lever 3I0 which, via a link 3, is connected with an oscillating lever is pivotally linked at its ends to the lever 3I2 3I2 pivoted to the frame 2| at 3I3. An arm 3M is pivotally linked at its ends to the lever BIZ and to a lever 3I5 which is pivoted to the frame 2| at 3I6. Lever 3I5 is urged upwardly by a spring 3|! and carries a cam follower 3l8 riding the periphery of a cam 3|0, the latter having a notch 320 and being continuously rotated from a timing shaft 32I by means of gears 322, 323 and 324. The shaft 32I is preferably part of the mechanism for rocking the lay 27, thus insuring synchronism between the movements of the lay and the arm 30! which here is an element of the carriage I5. It will be seen that once during each revolution of the cam 3I9, i. e. when the notch 320 reaches the follower 3I3, the spring SIT is permitted to raise the lever 3|5, thus causing the arm 30'! to swing inwardly toward the pile warp threads 900 which are thereupon engaged by respective hooks I05a or I05b, depending upon the position of the hook bar 70; it will also be noted that the cross section of hook bar 70 has been modified slightly (except at its ends) to position the hooks I05a, l06a horizontally when the arm 308 has moved to the rear.

Although various forms of the invention have been specifically shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments but is, on the contrary, capable of numerous modifications and adaptations without exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a support, a plurality of sets of hooks on said support, one of said sets of hooks occupying an operative position, and mechanism selectively operable to transfer said one set to an inoperative position and to place another of said sets in said operative positlon.

2. In a machine for weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a reciprocable carriage, a plurality of sets of hooks on said carriage, one of said sets of hooks occupying an operative position, first mechanism for selectively reciprocating said carriage, and second mechprising control means for actuating said second mechanism during a period of inactivity of said first mechanism.

4. In a machine for weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a support, a hook supporting member displaceably positioned on said support, a plurality of sets of hooks on said hook supporting member, one of said sets of hooks occupying an operative position, and mechanism selectively operable to transfer said one set to an inoperative position and to place another of said sets in said operative position by displacing said hook supporting member relative to said support.

5. In a machine for weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a reoiprocable carriage, a hook supporting member displaceably positioned on said carriage, a plurality of sets of hooks on said hook supporting member, one of said sets of hooks occupying an operative position, first mechanism for selectively reciprocating said carriage, and second mechanism operable independently of said first mechanism to transfer said one set to an inoperative position and to place another of said sets in said operative position by displacing said hook supportin member relative to said carriage.

6. In a machine for Weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a support, a hook bar rotatably mounted on said support, a plurality of sets of hooks on said hook bar, said sets of hooks extending in diiferent directions from the axis of said hook bar, and mechanism selectively operable to rotate said hook bar through an angle such as to place one of said sets of hooks in a position previously occupied by another of said sets.

'7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said support is provided with a pair of housings with slots therein, said hook bar having two extremities extending through said slots of said housings, respectively, said mechanism comprising a first projection extending from said hook bar, a second projection secured to said support, and actuating means operable to displace said extremities in said slots, thereby bringing said first projection into engagement with said second projection, said two projections co-operating to rotate said hook bar.

8. The combination according to claim 7, comprising spring means tending to maintain said hook bar in any one of a plurality of stable angular positions.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said hook bar is of. rectangular cross section, said spring means comprising a pair of spring arms flanking said hook bar and bearing upon opposite sides thereof.

10. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said hook bar is radially .displaceable from a normal position, said mechanism being 10 operative to radially displace said hook bar from said normal position prior to rotating said hook bar, said support being provided with retaining means effective in said normal position to prevent V rotation of said hook bar.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said hook bar is of angular cross section and terminates in a pair of round gudgeons, said support being provided with a pair of housings having slots respectively receiving said gudgeons, said hook bar being in its normal position with said gudgeons adjacent one end of said slots, said mechanism being operable to displace said gudgeons toward the other end of said slots.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein said mechanism comprises a sprocket secured to and displaceable with said hook bar, and finger means extending from said support into the path of displacement of the teeth of said sprocket.

13. In a machine for weaving a fabric with loops thereon, in combination, a reciprocable carriage, first mechanism for displacing said carriage from a home position, a hook bar rotatably mounted on said carriage, a plurality of sets of hooks on said hook bar, said sets of hooks extending in different directions from the axis of said hook bar with one of said sets of hooks pointing in the general direction of displacement of said carriage from said home position, and second mechanism operable independently of said first mechanism to rotate said hook bar through an angle such as to place another of said sets of hooks in the position previously occupied by said one set of hooks.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said carriage is provided with mounting means for said hook bar allowing for a radial displacement of said hook bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said carriage, said second mechanism comprising actuating means positioned to engage said hook bar in the home position of said carriage for displacement of said hook bar in said perpendicular direction.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said mounting means allows for a substantially vertical displacement of said hook bar between a lower and an upper position, said mounting means being provided with retaining means preventing rotation of said hook bar in said lower position.

16. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said sets of hooks differ in the positioning of the hooks of each set along said hook bar.

17. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said sets of hooks differ in the effective lengths of the hooks thereof.

18. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said sets of hooks differ in the form of said hooks.

PAUL J. ST. JEAN. WILLIS PRUITT.

No references cited. 

